NRL 2017

[Nepia]

@antipodean said in NRL 2017:

Hilarious that certain players have decided to make the international game more competitive.

I don't think it has made the 'international' game more competitive, just the international game under Australia and England - it's gone from a possible three contenders to two.

[antipodean]

@nepia Surely if Australia don't win it would be a massive upset?

[Bovidae]

The Tongan backline could be better than the Kiwis if all those eligible have jumped ship.

[canefan]

Fifita reportedly quitting Australia for Tonga. If they get a few more defectors they could be a threat. Any way to conjure up eligibility for Sam Thaiday?

[Sneakdefreak]

Tonga announces squad. Guessing Lolohea/Hingano/Hopoate will fight it out for the halves:

Tonga Rugby League World Cup 2017 Squad

Andrew Fifita
Mahe Fonua
David Fusitu’a
Siliva Havilli
Ata Hingano
Will Hopoate
Konrad Hurrell
Michael Jennings
Solomone Kata
Sione Katoa
Samisoni Langi
Tuimoala Lolohea
Sika Manu
Manu Ma'u
Sam Moa
Ben Murdoch Masila
Joe Ofahengaue
Tevita Pangai jnr
Ukuma Ta'ai
Sio Siua Taukieaho
Jason Taumalolo
Peni Terepo
Daniel Tupou
Manu Vatuvei

[Nepia]

@sneakdefreak Good squad on paper, be interesting to see if they can put it together on the field.

I'd assume they'd have Hopoate at fullback?

[Sneakdefreak]

@nepia Or Fusitua. Looking at the team I would guess 1. Fusitua 2.Fonua Tupou 3.Hurrell 4.Kata 5.Jennings 6.Hopoate 7.Lolohea

[Nepia]

@sneakdefreak said in NRL 2017:

@nepia Or Fusitua. Looking at the team I would guess 1. Fusitua 2.Fonua Tupou 3.Hurrell 4.Kata 5.Jennings 6.Hopoate 7.Lolohea

Fusitua at 1 I can understand, but surely the coach wont buy into the Kata myth, not when Jennings is around?

1. Hopoate, 2. Tupou, 3. Hurrell, 4. Jennings, 5. Fusitua, 6. Hingano, 7. Lolohea - looks a better mix to me personally.

[Sneakdefreak]

@nepia Tonga will be thinking they can go deep into the tournament but they won't with Lolohea and Hingano in the halves. Really think they'll put Hopoate there.

[ACT Crusader]

@sneakdefreak Hopate at 5/8 would be a great move. They’ll need a good kicking halfback which Lolohea is not.

[Sneakdefreak]

Kidwell is saying "the Key is the We" as in Kiwi. Sweet jesus.....

[Nepia]

@sneakdefreak said in NRL 2017:

@nepia Tonga will be thinking they can go deep into the tournament but they won't with Lolohea and Hingano in the halves. Really think they'll put Hopoate there.

Has Hopoate played many games in the halves?

Also, when is the Kiwis C team named? Has the Samoan team been named yet - if not we might wind up losing more to them too. Also, we're lucky that the Cooks aren't included as well.

[Sneakdefreak]

[Sneakdefreak]

Addin Fonua-Blake is a bit of a surprise. No Ben Matulino, wonder if he will turn out for Samoa...

[Bovidae]

Leuluai in the halves or at hooker?

SJ isn't going to drive the team with Martin or Nikorima being so inexperienced.

[Nepia]

@bovidae said in NRL 2017:

Leuluai in the halves or at hooker?

SJ isn't going to drive the team with Martin or Nikorima being so inexperienced.

Depends on the master gameplan that they've apparently come up with - the one that Mannering is apparently not suited to.

[Sneakdefreak]

@bovidae Halves will be Johnson and Martin. Hooker role will be shared by Leuluai (starting) and Nikorima (bench). But Nepia is right, it depends on their strategy (which Blair could be in the halves for all we know)

[Nepia]

So the takeaway from all this - go to jail for assault, make the Kiwis, do a bit of coke and you're banned. Didn't Fonua-Blake also bash his partner?

[Bovidae]

So no Hiku at 6?

I'm still waiting for Johnson to perform when he's the main playmaker.

[Sneakdefreak]

@bovidae Hiku and Whare are probably the centres (though Beale will be in the mix)